MCG set to host 2015 World Cup final

Andrew Wu, Chris Barrett

Sydney has lost out to Melbourne for the right to host the 2015 World Cup final with the MCG set to be announced as the venue for the tournament showpiece.

The SCG has edged out ANZ Stadium as the venue for one semi-final despite the western Sydney ground proving itself as a suitable international host over the last two summers. Auckland will host the other semi.

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Tournament organisers will confirm on Tuesday the MCG will again stage the World Cup final, 23 years after more than 87,000 fans poured into the ground to watch Imran Khan's Pakistan defeat England in 1992.

The World Cup organising committee will also announce the venues, pools and fixtures for the tournament, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand and include 49 matches over 44 days in February and March.

The MCG is set to be announced as the host of the 2015 World Cup final. Photo: Justin McManus

The MCG had been the initial favourite to host the final but came under challenge from Sydney due to fears the technology available in the media centre did not comply with ICC standards for a World Cup venue.

Cricket NSW had hoped ANZ Stadium would provide a viable alternative to the MCG, particularly after attracting a crowd of nearly 60,000 for a Twenty20 international featuring Australia and India early last year.

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But the ground has lost out in the bid for a semi-final to Sydney's traditional home of cricket, the SCG, which will have an increased capacity of 48,000 when the $186 million redevelopment is completed.